The recruitment of Roman soldiers in the Theodosian Code

Abstract

This paper examines the recruitment of Roman soldiers during the Late Empire, based on the thirteenth chapter (De tironibus) of the seventh book of the Theodosian Code. The main emphasis is placed on seven imperial decrees, issued by the emperors Constantius II, Valentinian I, Valens, and Gratian between 353 and 375 AD. The main problem of the Roman army during the Late Empire was the lack of manpower and the rising issues related to military conscription. Emperor Valentinian I took measures to prevent the deliberate self-mutilation of fingers as a means of evading military service, while Valens, in the East, was forced to implement military reforms to increase the number of recruits.